Chapter Twenty: The Arrogant Taxi Driver

"Jiuri, you're famous this time—you made the front page of the entertainment section," Chicken Feather said, slapping a newspaper down on Yan Xu's desk.

"I already have a copy," Yan Xu replied, pulling a newspaper from his drawer and tossing it onto the desk. Even when his film became a dark horse and earned millions at the box office, it had never made the entertainment headlines. Who could have thought that merely teaching an unscrupulous taxi driver a lesson would land him on the front page? This was the first news story to mark his rise to fame.

"Look at this—such a large photo! Your fist twisted that guy's face. It's so clear, I wonder where the photographer was hiding. I didn't notice anyone around," Chicken Feather pointed at the image.

"Paparazzi really are everywhere," Yan Xu sighed lightly. It was late that night, and there were barely any people on the street, yet a reporter still managed to catch the scene. Truly remarkable.

"But there’s nothing good said about you here. 'New director with no regard for others, hot-tempered, brutally beats innocent taxi driver.' The headline paints you as a negative example. The taxi driver is portrayed as a victim, and they even claim you have underworld connections, involved in multiple brawls. Even the time you were injured in a knife attack is mentioned. What do you plan to do?" Chicken Feather asked, picking up the paper.

"What else? Ignore it," Yan Xu said with a faint smile. Reporters are always eager for you to respond, the bigger the stir, the better. But if you stay silent, in the entertainment world where news changes so quickly, another story will soon take its place.

"Ignore it? Let them distort the truth and smear your name?" Chicken Feather stared at Yan Xu in astonishment.

"If a dog bites you, do you bite back? Those reporters care only about sales. If you don't give them the chance, they'll quiet down," Yan Xu explained. He disliked dealing with reporters—years as an assistant director had taught him they were insatiable wolves. In his previous life, he’d spent no small amount on bribes for those guys.

"Now even if you want to avoid it, you can't." Just as Yan Xu finished speaking, the office door swung open again and Bald Qiang entered.

"Half an hour ago, the taxi driver you hit stepped forward. He demands an apology and compensation for his medical expenses. Otherwise, he'll report you to the police for intentional injury," Bald Qiang said, slapping the table in front of them.

"What? He’s playing the victim now? We should be the ones pressing charges, damn it! So brazen—I'll gather a few buddies and teach him a lesson," Chicken Feather flared up.

"Don't act rashly," Bald Qiang quickly held him back. "We're a legitimate company now, respectable businessmen—we can't go back to the old ways of violence. Besides, if you go after the taxi driver now, you’ll only prove the newspapers right."

*************************

Scenes like this had never occurred at Hundred Battles Film Company before. The once cluttered office was spotless; windows untouched for years gleamed, and even the risqué posters and fiery pin-ups on the walls had vanished, replaced by serene landscapes.

Staff members were instructed to dress sharply—suits and shirts covered up any unruly tattoos, while those with less presentable appearances were sent home on leave. The heavily made-up girls washed their faces, tamed their messy hair, donned matching outfits and ponytails, becoming receptionists or tea girls. At a glance, it looked like an office in Central, full of white-collar workers.

For the reporters coming and going through the company, Bald Qiang was busy directing and welcoming them warmly. He had never seen such a grand occasion—it was the first press conference in Hundred Battles’ history. Dozens of reporters, armed with cameras, filled the lounge, with crowds even thronging the doorway.

The situation was escalating, dominating recent entertainment headlines. The beaten taxi driver paraded photos of his injuries, sobbing everywhere. The images were compelling: Yan Xu's fist striking his face in close-up, Yan Xu’s foot kicking his body, and the driver, bloodied and curled on the street. All of it was powerful evidence, stirring sympathy among viewers.

The magazines seemed omnipotent; their influence sometimes exceeded the police. Yan Xu’s past few years were thoroughly dug up: fights, running protection rackets as a street punk, his poor academic record—all became talking points.

Some papers, chasing sales, even fabricated so-called facts, almost turning Yan Xu into a pariah of the entertainment world.

Yan Xu’s silence only emboldened the press, fueling a torrent of speculation. The taxi driver, especially, grew arrogant, using the transportation and compensation money from the magazines to cry on every corner. His photo appeared almost as often as top celebrities.

At the height of the frenzy, Hundred Battles Film Company abruptly announced a press conference, instantly attracting the media’s attention.

Once most reporters had arrived, Yan Xu emerged from a side room. As soon as he stepped out, countless cameras were trained on him, flashes so bright his vision blurred, barely able to keep his eyes open.

As an assistant director, he’d attended many press conferences, but reporters always focused on the stars. No one cared about him; he didn’t even qualify to go on stage. Now, suddenly the center of attention, it was his first time.

"Mr. Yan, do you have any comment on Mr. Wang the taxi driver’s accusations?"

"Mr. Yan, is this sudden press conference meant to offer an apology to Mr. Wang?"

"Mr. Yan, did your complex social connections lead to this incident?"

"Mr. Yan, do you have a specific response to Mr. Wang’s demand for compensation?"

"Mr. Yan, if Mr. Wang files a lawsuit, are you prepared to fight him in court?"

…

No sooner had Yan Xu sat down than the reporters fired off questions one after another, all revolving around the incident.

Not long ago, the taxi driver had made his demands public through the press: Yan Xu must apologize in person, publish an apology in the newspapers for three days, and most importantly, compensate him fifty thousand yuan for medical and emotional damages.

These were his final conditions. If unmet, he would report Yan Xu to the police and formally sue him in court. With the photos and medical report in hand, his chances of winning were high. If Yan Xu lost, he’d face compensation, and possibly several months or even years in prison.

ps: Another chapter tonight!